sexes

dered of eminent benefit to the whole twelve Indians; his fate is not yet western country. Its origin was hum- known. His escape was barely possible, and it has risen to its present char ble, and it is feared that he fell, another acter and importance, in consequence victim to the unsparing rage of the of the extreme want of capable teachers enemy. Reports have reached the stain that part of the country. It compre- tion of the army, that several murders hends à

partment of manual labor, had been committed on citizens of Verwhich enables those young men who million County on the Wabash. To a are disposed, to defray almost the whole requisition for men, that district anexpense of their education by the avails swered, that its inhabitants were reof their labor in the field; and which quired at home to defend their property has enabled many to pass through the and friends. course by this means alone. Apparatus The latest accounts state that the Ilin four scientific branches have been linois Militia, under the command of obtained for $500, and the building is Gen. Whiteside, have disbanded and large and fine, on high ground, with returned to their homes, their term of piazzas towards the Ohio and Muskin- service having expired. About three gum rivers. Able instructers of both hundred volunteered to remain in the

are engaged in the different fortifications at the Ottawa until the new branches. The pupils board in respect

levies should arrive. The number of able families. Females obtain their ed- the drafts made by the Governor, was ucation there, for school-teachers, for about three thousand. General Atkinabout 25 dollars a year; and there is son with the United States' troops, was abundant need of good schools of both still in camp at Dixon's or Ogee's sexes in all the Western states.

Ferry, on Rock river.

Orders were ILLINOIS.

received by the proper officers at this INDIAN WAR. The frontiers of this place to furnish transportation for the state have been for some time in a fer- companies ordered from Cantonment ment on account of the hostilities of Leavenworth. A steam-boat will be the Indians. The first accounts of the immediately despatched for that post, progress and extent of these hostilities and the commanding General expects proves to be greatly, exaggerated. to be joined by this additional regular There have been several murders, and force, by the 16th instant. One hunalmost daily intelligence of massacres

dred men have also been ordered from on the defenceless inhabitants of the Fort Winnebago. frontiers. A Missouri paper says

In addition to this force, General The war is conducted by the savage Atkinson has called upon the Sioux enemy with all the cruelties and barbar- and Menominees for one thousand warities that have ever marked their con- riors. These tribes, immediately on Alicts. Murder of the old and the the breaking out of the war, pressed young, of the defenceless infant and their services on the whites, but were unoffending woman, burning and devas repulsed. They are burning to revenge tation mark their course. Even de- their wrongs, real or supposed, on the struction does not satisfy their rage. hostile Indians, and would, probably, Manglings of the dead bodies, and the by their experience, habits, and endumost atrocious and disgusting indigni- rance, be more efficient, opposed to ties follow the work of death. Fifteen their red brethren, than double their persons, men, women, and children, number of whites. Although their aid were surprised and murdered at a set- has been once declined, their animosity tlement on Indian Creek (a tributary of is strong enough to induce them to take Fox river) on the 20th ult. Two young part in the war, now that they are women were suffered to live, but were solicited. carried off to Indian captivity.

A Apprehensions have been entertained small party of seven or eight men,

LITERARY NOTICES.
Swallow Barn; or a Sojourn in the name, to pass a few weeks at Swallow
Old Dominion.

Barn, his ancestral mansion. He finds

Mr. Hazard desperately in love with It is reported, we know not on what authority, that this work is to be at

Miss Bel Tracy. Said Hazard brays tributed to the author of the best polit- ass, through the work, as all men in

and gambols like an ass, a very sorry ical satire of our times, viz. The Breeches." The Breeches were not

love do, especially those who are ignohalf so much worn as they deserved to

rant of every useful way of passing the be; but all who saw them pronounced the bond, and a slight one it is, that

time. The progress of the courtship is their maker an artist of rare talent. The book before us will not diminish

holds the chapters of the book together. his reputation.

The rest of the materials are, with the Swallow Barn has no plot or story scriptions of the manners and scenery of

exception of two or three episodes, dewhatever. The author tells us, in his introductory remarks, that he did not

Virginia. intend to make one. He had great dif

The farther we read, the more strongly

are we convinced that the author in. ficulty, he says, to prevent himself from writing a novel. We wish he had made

tended “to show up" the Virginians. a novel of it. It was his intention to

His priacipal characters are humorously pass a few weeks in the Old Dominion, matic. He has succeeded admirably in

conceited, pompous, ignorant and dogin order to portray the impressions which the scenery and people made showing them in a ridiculous light. upon him, in detached pictures, without

Take for example the following diaconnexion. We must not condemn a

logue between a landlord and his guest. book because it is not an Iliad, or a Some thirty or forty persons were collected Fielding or Waverly novel-it is unjust

at the Landing. The porch of the shabby little

hostelry was filled by a crowd of rough looking to expect an author to perform more

rustics, who were laughing boisterously, drinkthan he avowedly undertakes. Swal- ing, and making ribald jokes. A violin and low Barn is entitled to the praise of fife were heard, from within the building, to a being all that it professes to be. Still, we

quick measure, which was accompanied with

the heavy tramp of feet from a party of danknow not what to call it. It is not a

A group of negroes, outside of the house, poem, though rich in the materials of were enjoying themselves in the same way, poetry; it is not a lean record of “first shuffling through the odd contortions of a jig,

with two sticks lying crosswise upon the impressions ;” it is not a book of travels

ground, over which they danced, alternately and adventures; it is not a novel. It slapping their thighs and throwing up their elbelongs to a nondescript genus, and bows to the time of the music, and making may be classed with some parts of the

strange grimaces. A few tall, swaggering Sketch Book, of which it is a manifest

figures, tricked out in yellow hunting-shirts

trimmed with green fringe, and their hats, some imitation. If we may hazard a conjec- white and some black, garnished with a band ture, at variance with the opinions of of red cloth and ragged plumes of the same the newspaper critics, we will say, that

color, that seemed to have been faded by frewe think it was intended for a satire, a

quent rains, stood about in little knots, where
they tal

loudly and swore hard oaths. Agentle satire on the pride, aristocratic mongst these were mingled a motley collection feeling, and ignorance of a certain class,

of lank and sallow watermen, boys, negroes rather numerous in the south. The

and females bedizened in all the wonders of author seems to hint at this in his pre

country millinery. At the fences and about the

trees, in the vicinity of the house, was to be face. 66 The ordinary actions of men," seen the counterpart of these groups, in the he says, “in their household inter

various assemblage of horses of every color,

shape and degree, stamping, neighing and course have not usually a humorous or

sleeping until their services should be required comic character.” Again," the under- by their mandlin masters. Occasionally, dur. currents of country life are grotesque,

ing our stay, some of these nags were brought peculiar and amusing." He says that

forward for a race, which was conducted with he is confident that no one will say that

increased uproar and tumult. his pictures are false or exaggerated. If Rip had recognized some familiar features this be true, and his book is a fair de- amongst the country volunteers, and had al. scription of general society, alas for the

cers.

*

*

*

*

wharf, and on the stern benches were seated ingest ball play you ever had in all your lives."" three or four graver looking men in coarse at- * You dont't tell me so !” exclaimed the redtire, who were deeply discussing questions that nosed gentleman with animation, and bursting occasionally brought them into a high tone of out into a tremendous laugh. voice, and, now and then, into a burst of loud “ Did'nt he say so, Ned Hazard ? I beg your laughter. Ned had led me up to this group, pardon, Mr. Ned Hazard.!” ejaculated Sandy, and, in the careless indolence of the moment, and turning to Ned. we had thrown ourselves out at full length “ I think I have heard so," said Ned," though across the seats; Ned, with his legs dangling I don't believe he used that exact expression.” across the gunwale, with Wilful lying close by, “ It was something like it,” said Sandy: and reposing his head upon his lap.

“ well, that's the sort of nullification you'd get." The principal personage in this collection “ Things are getting worse and worse," rewas Sandy Walker, a long, sun-burnt water- plied the other. "I can see how it's going. man, who was the proprietor of the hotel, and Here, the first thing General Jackson did when evidently a man of mark among his associates. he came in, he wanted to have the President One of the others was a greasy gentleman in a elected for six years; and, by and by, they will blue coat, out at elbows, with a nose lustrous want him for ten! and now they want to cut with living fire. These two were the principal up our orchards and meadows, whether or no; speakers, and they were debating an intricate that's just the way Bonaparte went on. What's point of constitutional law, with more vehe- the use of states if they are all to be cut up with mence than perspicuity. At length, an appeal canals and rail-roads and tariffs ? No, no, genwas made to Ned, by Sandy, who was infinitely tlemen! you may depend, Old Virginny's not the most authoritative in his manner of the going to let Congress carry on in her day !” whole group.

“ How can they help it?" asked Sandy. “ Can't Congress,” said Sandy, “supposing “We hav'nt fout and bled,” rejoined the they were to pass a law to that effect, come and other, taking out of his pocket a large piece of take a road of theirn any where they have a tobacco, and cutting off a quid, as he spoke in mind to, through any man's land ? I put it to a somewhat subdued tone, we hav'nt fout and Mr. Ned Hazard."

bled for our liberties to have our posterity and “ Not by the Constitution," said the gentle. their land circumcised after this rate, to suit the man in the greasy coat, with marked emphasis. figaries of Congress. So let them try it when “Well,” said Ned, “we'll hear you, San

they will !” dy."

" Mr. Ned Hazard, what do you call state Sandy rose up, and lifting his hand above his rights ?" demanded Sandy. head, as he began,

" It's a sort of a law,” said the other speaker, “I say it stands to reason

taking the answer to himself, “ against cotton “ It stands to no such thing !" rejoined the

!

and wool." other, interrupting him, “ if it's against the “ That's a fact,” cried Sandy," and, in my Constitution,-which I say it is undoubtedly,- thinking, it's a very foolish sort of a business. to come and take a man's land without saying, “ There's where you and me differs,” reby your leave; if I may be allowed the expres- sponded the other. sion, Mr. Ned Hazard, it's running against a “Well,” said Ned, “ it's a troublesome ques

tion. Suppose we wait until we hear what Old “ Silence,” says Ned, “ Mr. Walker has the

Virginia says about it herself? And as for us, plank; we can only hear one at a time!"

Sandy, it is getting late, and we must go.” “Why, sir," continued Sandy, argumenta- These words concluded the colloquy. tively, and looking steadfastly at his opponent, with one eye closed, and, at the same time,

The author of Swallow Barn is the bringing his right hand into the palm of his best of imitators. After reading the left; “ they can just cut off a corner, if they Breeches we could almost have sworn want it, or go through the middle, leaving one that Dean Swift had come to life again. half here, and t'other there, and make you fence it clean through into the bargain; or,” added

If we had not been assured of the conSandy, giving more breadth to his doctrine," go trary, we should have set down the through your house, sir."

work before us to the credit of Mr. “Devil a house have I, Sandy!" said the

Irving. There is the other.

same quiet “ Or your harn, sir."

humor, the same good-natured satire, - Nor barn nother."

the same smooth, and sometimes quaint Sweeping your bed right from under you, if language, and the same evidence of Congress says so. across the Allegheny mountain ? What does extensive reading and general observahave got the money?" Congress care about your state rights, so as they tion, which characterize the Sketch

Book, Bracebridge Hall, and the Tales “ Canals, I grant you,” said his antagonist ; “ but there's a difference between land and

of a Traveler. We cannot say that our water,” evidently posed by Sandy's dogmatic

author quite equals his model; no imimanner, as well as somewhat awed by the rela- tator ever does; but he approaches him tion of landlord, in which Sandy stood, and whom, therefore, he would not rashly contra

very nearly

We now feel as well acdict. “But,” said he, in a more softened tone,

quainted with Virginia as any of Mr. and with an affected spice of courtesy in his

Irving's readers can be with the shores accost, “Mr. Walker, I'd be glad to know if of the North river. we could'nt nullify." 66 Nullify!” exclaimed Sandy, « nullify

The style of Swallow Barn is

easy, what?" said he, with particular emphasis on

snag.”

” into

the minute particles which distinguish valuable results—but after all, I much question ordinary characters from each other.

-(and here he bit his upper lip, and paused an In the second volume we did not need

instant)-if we are not better without it. I de

clare, I think it strikes deeper at the supremacy to be told to whom any speech be- of the states than most persons are willing to longed; it spoke for itself." His de- allow. This annihilation of space, sir, is not to scriptions are singularly minute. While

be desired. Our protection against the evils of

consolidation consists in the very obstacles to we read, we fancy ourselves listening our intercourse. Splatterthwaite Dubbs of Dinto the dogs around the 66 gum," widdie-(or some such name,-Frank is fawhich they have compelled the oppos

mous for quoting the opinions of his contemposum to climb, and to the notes of

raries. This Splatterthwaite, I take it, was

some old college chum that had got into the (black) uncle Carey's banjo. Of inven- legislature, and I dare say made pungent tion, Swallow Barn displays little, of speeches,) Dubbs of Dinwiddie made a good connection none. The whole interest

remark-That the home material of Virginia of the work consists in its novel subject

was never so good as when her roads were at

their worst." And so Frank went on with and its humorously beautiful style. Of quite a harangue, to which none of the company course,

these remarks do not apply to replied one word, for fear we might get into a the episodes. The talent of the author

dispute. Every body seems to understand the has created a pleasure, which a view of

advantage of silence when Meriwether is in

clined to be expatiatory. the persons and scenes he describes

Ned Hazard, Harvey Riggs, Philpot would never have given. We should like to see Swallow Barn, and perhaps prominent, or, perhaps, we should say

Wart and old Mr. Tracy are the other to pass a week there, but no more. In short, with all his ability, all his

the distinguished, male characters of information, all his command of lan

Swallow Barn. They are all goodguage, (and in these particulars he is

natured, worthy persons. Philpot Wart surpassed by no American writer) his

is passably intelligent and well informbook will be thought by many to be

ed. But they do nothing. No incident, rather dull. He seems to be conscious

of more importance than the concoction of this, for he acknowledges it in the

of a mint julep, occurs in the whole preface. It is not altogether his fault.

course of their lives, save those which Setting aside the demerit of imitation, marriage and death. They visit each

are common to all mankind, viz. birth, his materials are badly chosen. It is impossible to make much of them. If other, eat, drink and are merry, and life in Virginia be what he describes,

that is all. They have some excellent we would not settle in the Old Domin. qualities, but no occasion calls them ion for the best estate it contains. The

forth. They are very estimable, amiagentlemen of Swallow Barn are the

ble, good-for-nothing people, who might most ordinary, trifling, useless genera

have gone quietly down to their graves, tion the world ever saw.

and no one, save their own relations,

would have been the worse or the better they are kind, hospitable, liberal, and honorable, but how are their lives

for the event, or have known that they existed but for his pen.

The passed ? If this work be what it pretends, a Virginian of condition has no

negroes of Swallow Barn are its only use for his time but to pay and receive

working bees. Such lives as the whites visits, to attend courts, and to watch

lead, may be very satisfactory to themthe multiplication of his horses and

selves, but they are very insipid to the negroes. These may be very proper

observer. The whole book is a picture

of the stillest of still life. With ten employments, and may conduce to the prosperity of the state, but deliver us

times the talent of any but one or two from such a life. We would as lief be

of our best writers, our author has pro

duced a work that we fear may cause transformed into a fixture on

one of their farms.

some yawning, but will be read—we have

no doubt that it will live-such authors Frank Meriwether seems to have been intended to represent the landed propri- many irresistibly ludicrous chapters.

do not appear every day. It contains etors of Virginia. He is a magistrate,

Yet we must consider it, as a whole, is rich, keeps the best company in the state, and his opinions are received as

but the promise of better things. We oracles by all the little luminaries who

think of this gentleman, as we have revolve within the sphere of his orbit.

before thought of some others, that it is Take the following remarks for a speci- pity that one who can do so well, has men of his intelligence.

To be sure,

ever

that we

rather strongly of “ The Devil and Tom The History and

Geography of the Walker." Woodcraft, Abe, The Negro Mississippi Valley. To which is appended a Mother, The Goblin Swamp, and the Condensed Physical Geography of the Atlanwhole story of the lawsuit respecting

tic United States, and the Whole American

Continent. Second Edition. By Timothy the Applepye Boundary, may be men

Flint. tioned as among the best parts of the

The accomplished and elegant writer work. Though we cannot speak of

of this work may lay claim to a rank Swallow Barn in the superlative, we

similar to that of Colonel Boone in bemay say here, that there is scarcely

ing the first to penetrate the recesses of any thing in the literary way,

the western wilds. Other writers, indeem the author incompetent to achieve. We shall henceforth take some pains to

deed, travelers, geographers and histo

rians, have given us occasional sketches procure any book he may publish. It is one merit of Swallow Barn, that

of those remote regions," whereof by almost any part is proper for quotation.

parcels we had something heard, but We quote the following as a not unfa

nought distinctively.” But till thé

apvorable specimen of the author's style

pearance of Mr.Flint's "Ten Years' Resiand manner.

dence," no adequate impression of the

majestic scenery of the west had been Next to these is a boy,-a shrewd, mischievous imp, that curvets about the house, “a char

conveyed by the pen of any writer. tered libertine.” He is a little wiry fellow near The bold, original and striking descripthirteen, that is known altogether by the nick- tions with which that work abounds; name of Rip, and has a scapegrace counte

the vivid glow of poetical coloring which nance, full of freckles and deviltry : the eyes are somewhat greenish, and the mouth opens

the eloquence and feeling of the writer alarmingly wide upon a tumultuous array of threw over every object of his notice, discolored teeth. His whole air is that of an raised him at once to a rank with our untrimmed colt, torn down and disorderly; and

very first writers. In the “ Geography, I most usually find him with the bosom of his shirt bagged out, so as to form a great pocket,

and History of the Mississippi Valley, where he carries' apples or green walnuts, and the eloquence and imagination in the sometimes pebbles, with which he is famous former work are sobered down to a standfor pelting the fowls. I must digress, to say a word about Rip's

ard befitting a volume of statistical dehead-gear. He wears a nondescript skull-cap, tail, yet much of the freshness of dewhich, I conjecture from some equivocal signs, scription remains. The present edition had once been a fur hat, but which must have has been much improved, and may fairtaken a degree in fifty other callings; for I see it daily employed in the most foreign services.

ly be pronounced the best Geography of Sometimes it is a drinking vessel, and then Rip

America in existence. On the Western pinches it up like a cocked hat; sometimes it is states it is full and accurate; on the Atlandevoted to push-pin, and then it is cuffed cruelly tic states it contains all that is necessary on both sides; and sometimes it is turned into a basket, to carry eggs from the hen-roosts. It to be known; and on the other portions finds hard service at hat-ball, where, like a plas

of the American continent it has a contic statesman, it is popular for its pliability. It is tossed in the air on all occasions of rejoicing;

densed summary of all recent informaand now and then serves for a gauntlet-and is

tion. We cannot refrain from quoting flung with energy upon the ground, on the eve

one or two of the author's forcible and of a battle; and it is kicked occasionally vivid sketches of western scenery, which through the school-yard, after the fashion of a he has executed with the imagination bladder. It wears a singular exterior, having a row of holes cut below the crown, or rather the

and skill of a true poet. apex, (for it is pyramidal in shape,) to make it Below the mouth of Ohio, in the season cool, as Rip explains it, in hot weather. The of inundation, to an observing spectator a very only rest that it enjoys through the day, as far striking spectacle is presented. The river, as as I have been able to perceive, is during school will elsewhere be observed, sweeps along in hours, and then it is thrust between a desk and

curves, or sections of circles, of an extent from a bulk-head, three inches apart, where it gener- six to twelve miles, measured from point to ally envelopes in its folds a handful of hickory- point. The sheet of water, that is visible benuts or marbles. This covering falls down- tween the forests on either side, is, as we have for it has no lining-like an extinguisher over remarked, not far from the medial width of Rip's head, which is uncommonly small and a mile. On a calm spring morning, and unround, and garnished with a tangled mop of der a bright sun, this sheet of water, to an hair. To prevent the frequent recurrence of eye that takes in its gentle descending dethis accident, Rip has pursed it up with a hat- clivity, shines, like a mass of burnished silband of twine.

Its edges are distinctly marked by a To conclude-we think the motto of

magnificent outline of cotton-wood trees, genSwallow Barn admirably

erally of great size, and at this time of the

adapted. year, of the brightest verdure. On the convex, Read it, believe it; and you will not be or bar side of the bend, there is generally a vigdisappointed in what comes after. Le orous growth of willows, or young cotton wood toici.

trees of such astonishing regularity of appear

ance, that it always seems to the unpractised “ And, for to pass the time, this book shall be spectator, a work of art. The water stands pleasant to read in. But for to give faith and among these trees from ten to fifteen feet in believe that all is true that is contained therein, height. Those brilliant birds, the black and red ye be at your own liberty."

bird of this country, seems to delight to flit

ver.